﻿484 
  Mr. 
  A. 
  H. 
  Holland 
  on 
  the 
  Birds 
  

  

  "orange-red"^ 
  (Arg. 
  Orn. 
  i. 
  p. 
  8), 
  appears 
  to 
  have 
  been 
  

   mistaken^ 
  and 
  Azara 
  to 
  have 
  been 
  correct, 
  unless 
  tlie 
  varia- 
  

   tion 
  be 
  due 
  to 
  sex 
  or 
  age. 
  

  

  2. 
  CoTURNicuLus 
  TERUAXUs 
  (Arg. 
  Om. 
  i. 
  p. 
  60). 
  

  

  Fairly 
  common 
  throughout 
  the 
  year, 
  in 
  winter, 
  living, 
  

   during 
  the 
  daytime, 
  in 
  small 
  companies, 
  and 
  at 
  sunset 
  

   collecting 
  in 
  large 
  numbers 
  to 
  roost 
  amongst 
  the 
  tall 
  

   herbage. 
  When 
  thus 
  collected 
  together 
  they 
  break 
  into 
  

   their 
  feeble 
  twitterings. 
  

  

  In 
  spring-time 
  the 
  flocks 
  break 
  up, 
  and 
  the 
  birds 
  pair 
  off, 
  

   scatteriug 
  about 
  the 
  quintas 
  and 
  plantations, 
  though 
  a 
  few 
  

   resort 
  to 
  the 
  camp. 
  During 
  the 
  breeding-season 
  the 
  plumage 
  

   becomes 
  much 
  darker. 
  The 
  male 
  at 
  this 
  season 
  sometimes 
  

   soars 
  to 
  about 
  30 
  feet 
  in 
  height, 
  with 
  head 
  thrown 
  back 
  and 
  the 
  

   feathers 
  erected, 
  tail 
  raised 
  and 
  expanded, 
  the 
  wings 
  beating 
  

   quickly. 
  During 
  this 
  performance 
  the 
  bird 
  twitters 
  a 
  short 
  

   feeble 
  song, 
  striving 
  after 
  high 
  notes, 
  but 
  failing 
  sadly, 
  as 
  if 
  

   it 
  possessed 
  a 
  sore 
  throat. 
  In 
  habits 
  this 
  species 
  is 
  shy 
  and 
  

   retiring, 
  preferring 
  to 
  run 
  along 
  at 
  a 
  great 
  pace 
  with 
  its 
  body 
  

   crouched 
  down, 
  resembling 
  a 
  mouse, 
  to 
  flyiug 
  away, 
  when 
  

   disturbed. 
  It 
  perches 
  alike 
  on 
  trees, 
  weeds, 
  buildings, 
  and 
  

   elsewhere. 
  

  

  The 
  nest 
  is 
  placed 
  on 
  the 
  ground 
  under 
  a 
  tuft 
  of 
  grass, 
  

   and 
  is 
  composed 
  of 
  dry 
  grass, 
  slightly 
  lined 
  with 
  horsehair. 
  

   The 
  eggs 
  are 
  three, 
  white, 
  pear-shaped, 
  and 
  rather 
  shiny. 
  

  

  3. 
  CoRYPHOspixGus 
  cRisTATus 
  (Arg. 
  Om. 
  i. 
  J). 
  48). 
  

   Obtained 
  on 
  July 
  3rd, 
  after 
  a 
  heavy 
  wind. 
  Iris 
  black. 
  

  

  4. 
  PoospizA 
  TORQUATA 
  (Arg. 
  Om. 
  i. 
  p. 
  51). 
  

  

  Several 
  of 
  these 
  birds 
  arrived 
  in 
  March 
  and 
  departed 
  a 
  few 
  

   days 
  ago, 
  evidently 
  on 
  their 
  way 
  north. 
  They 
  frequent 
  

   trees 
  and 
  buildings, 
  making 
  short 
  flights 
  after 
  insects 
  from 
  

   the 
  former. 
  In 
  disposition 
  they 
  are 
  tame, 
  but 
  very 
  restless, 
  

   and 
  mix 
  freely 
  with 
  almost 
  any 
  flock 
  of 
  other 
  Finches, 
  such 
  

   as 
  Cliingolas 
  and 
  Sycales. 
  They 
  utter 
  a 
  faint 
  but 
  pleasing 
  

   song. 
  Their 
  flight 
  is 
  short 
  and 
  in 
  curv^es. 
  The 
  belly 
  con- 
  

   tained 
  a 
  few 
  insects 
  and 
  minute 
  seeds. 
  

  

  [Mr. 
  Holland^s 
  specimen, 
  about 
  which 
  he 
  was 
  in 
  doubt, 
  is 
  

  

  